Catherine E Franks

Born March 1, 1923 in Scranton, PA to Patrick William and Catherine Ellen (McNulty) Sweeney, she married John Joseph Franks, Sr. on April 21, 1945 in Staunton, VA.  He died November 12, 1967.  She also was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Frank Sweeney, Tom Sweeney, James Sweeney and Terrance Sweeney and three sisters, Mary Sweeney, Anne Sweeney and Marion Coldren.

Surviving are one daughter, Ellen Franks of Geneva; two sons, William Franks of Highwood and John (Julie) Franks of Pekin; five grandchildren, Catherine (Brian Giffin) Hoovel of Glen Ellyn, Peter (Shanna) Piccony of Sugar Grove, John Franks, III of Peoria, Zachery Franks and James Franks, both of Chicago; and three great-grandchildren, Devin Hoovel, Maren Hoovel, and Kiera Piccony.

Kit joined the service in 1945 and served as a 1st Lieutenant Army nurse at Woodrow Wilson General Hospital in Stanton, VA.  She met her husband while serving in the Army during World War II.

A graduate of St. Agnes School of Nursing in Philadelphia, PA, Kit trained with Sister Kenny at the Pocono Institute.  Along with working as a registered nurse at Woodrow Wilson Hospital at Camp Lee, VA, she worked for Pekin Hospital.  Following the death of her husband in 1967, she owned and operated the Peoria Union Bus Center in Peoria for 10 years.

Kit served the community on the City of Pekin Planning and Zoning Commission and as a former docent for the Dirksen Center in Pekin.  She was a member of Pekin Country Club, where she had served on the Board of Governors.  She also was a member of Pekin Hospital Auxiliary, William Schaefer American Legion Post 44 in Pekin and the National Rifle Association.  She formerly served as a member of the Peoria Transportation Club and as a member of the Creve Coeur Club in Peoria.  She received the Pekin Altrusa Club’s Woman of the year award in 1972.

Kit was very proud of her Irish heritage and will be remembered as a very generous and giving person, who worked hard.  She also was proud to have sent all three of her kids to attend college.

She was a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.

Her funeral Mass will be at noon Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.  Monsignor Timothy Nolan will officiate.  Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.  Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin, where military rites will be accorded by the United States Army and Tazewell Area Ceremonial Team.  Arrangements are by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tazewell Animal Protective Society, 100 Taps Lane, Pekin, IL 61554 or to Pekin Union Mission Society, P.O. Box 1027, Pekin, IL 61555 or to Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 303 South 7th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com